David is a mathematical scientist who holds a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Sheffield. David spent his formative years in Niger, where he was exposed to the generosity of families and the power of community best practices and networks for those in extreme poverty.

David worked in business, writing software for banks, before tuning to a career in social impact. He embedded in a Kenyan university as a lecturer on a local salary. There he experienced first-hand the innumerable inequalities faced by talented individuals in low-resource environments.

In this African context, David first turned his mathematical skills to impact innovation to support digital and data inclusion in underserved environments and developed the collaborative innovation best practices that underpin IDEMS.

What’s the most challenging project or problem you’re working on right now?
My role naturally has me most engaged in IDEMS projects when things get most challenging, but right now our core projects are all in a good place, so I am free to be challenged elsewhere. Right I am inspired by the ambition of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) in Kenya. The CBC curriculum implementation has reached grade nine, the final year in the new Junior High School. I feel privileged to be in a position to support our Kenyan partners, in particular INNODEMS, as they take on ambitious projects ranging from teacher training, through a ground breaking MSc programme, to parental support, through apps, and student engagement, through digital textbooks. The combination of intellectual innovation, with urgency born of this unique moment in time, makes this possibly the most challenging and inspirational set of projects I have ever worked on.

What’s a recent professional success you’re especially proud of?
The results from the Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH), digital intervention Randomised Control Trials (RCTs) led by our partners at Oxford University. This has been over five years in the making but the results that are now coming in are beyond my wildest dreams. When we started out on this journey I was extremely cautious to moderate expectations on what could be achieved through digitisation of face to face programmes. I am proud of how the deep attention to detail seems to have paid off with the RCTs demonstrating that meaningful impact can be achieved through digital and hybrid programmes that can be scaled at a fraction of the cost.

What’s the next tangible thing your work will produce?
There are many exciting things I could mention here, but one which stands out is the work with CGIAR. This is a relatively small contract which should be wrapped up by the Autumn. It is going to produce a new tailored menu in RInstat which will enable a transformation in the way partners can analyse Tricot data, a specific type of farmer focused agricultural trial, notable because it’s specific rigorous design enables specific statistical methods to draw rigorous results from simple farmer comparison data over large numbers of farmers. Alongside the software development there will also be a specific data skills course reducing barriers to partners looking to understand and analyse the complex multilevel data that emerges from a Tricot study.

Kate brings experience in business, tech, social entrepreneurship, and community-centered innovation.

In 2008, she co-founded a New York City-based digital marketing agency, where she spent more than a decade helping launch and scale “disruptive” mainstream, venture-backed tech startups.

Through that work she saw firsthand how a profit-centric, “tech solutionist” model of innovation was at odds with – and often directly undermining – best practices of impact, inclusion and social cohesion. Through anti-trafficking work she came to explore the intersection of tech, trafficking and consensual sex work.

In 2020 she moved to the UK, where she founded a tech social enterprise designing privacy-protecting, accountability-enforcing innovation to support vulnerable sex workers and take on exploitation & trafficking in the context of non-extractive, community-centering design, ownership & governance models.

When Kate met David, they saw an opportunity to be more impactful by combining complementary skills in service of a shared vision for developing inclusive, scale underserved community-serving innovation.

What’s the most interesting project or problem you’re working on right now?

How to tell the story of the work we’re doing and the impact it’s having in a way that lands for others, including funders. And related to that how to connect with values-aligned funders with the patient, impact-focused capital to support IDEMS’ own deep tech R&D and product innovation.

What’s a recent professional success you’re especially proud of?

I’m really proud of my own social impact startup horizontl. Through its applied context I learned so much about deep tech innovation for underserved communities; community collaboration, relationship building and ownership; and the challenges of fundraising mission-aligned investment for hard (and in this case controversial) problems. And David Stern and I properly connected as a result of a presentation I gave on that work, so it led me to IDEMS and set in motion our joining forces out of the realization that, from entirely different perspectives and contexts, we had arrived at seeing the same problems and developing the same ideas for solutions.

What social problem is nearest and dearest to you? 

Pushing back against an all-too-common model for mainstream tech, defined by data capture and black-box algorithms for the primary goal of generating profits for shareholders. Inclusive, accountable tech that retains data, governance, decision making, and economic value in communities but that can effectively scale so that people can participate in broader networks of opportunity and information – and aren’t locked into or limited to their small-scale communities. At heart I’m interested in more equitable societies, protecting against abuse of power, and systems that work for the most vulnerable members of society.

Why did/do you choose to work at IDEMS?
I found my tribe of people who are working on/care about the same things!

Where is home? Anything you want to share about that?

After nearly 20 years in New York City, home is now London, and I love the mix of modernity and history. Long ago I thought I wanted to be an English professor and studied a lot of 16th- and 17th-century English history and literature, and I love feeling the glimmers of that as I move through my daily life. And it’s surprisingly easy to get out into the country by train for walks and hikes, which is a nice change from New York where that always required a car and a lot more planning.

Danny is passionate about projects that cut across the mathematical sciences and development which have the potential to achieve scale impact. After studying mathematics at the University of Warwick, an interest in education led him to the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Schools Enrichment Centre (AIMSSEC) South Africa, supporting maths teacher training courses, and the African Maths Initiative (AMI), organising maths camps and programs for university students in Kenya, Ghana and Ethiopia.

His work includes open source software development and climate data analysis for use in Africa. He also worked on research for development projects at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, developing tools for better use and understanding of data in agriculture and public procurement.

His PhD topic focuses on understanding how satellite data can support improved climate services in Africa.

Lily Clements is a Data Scientist and Educator at IDEMS. She brings experience in statistical skills, open-source software development, and creating accessible data education tools for real-world impact.

Lily began her career with a BSc in Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Reading, before working as an intern with Statistics for Sustainable Development (Stats4SD), a not-for-profit that uses statistics to support sustainable development. There, she began collaborating with IDEMS founders and developed an early interest in how data science could be both technically rigorous and socially meaningful.

She went on to complete an MSc and PhD in Statistics at the University of Southampton. Her PhD focused on multiple imputation methods in survival analysis, and involved extensive simulation-based research in R. Alongside her academic work, she taught undergraduate and master’s students, focusing on making R and statistical thinking more accessible to learners from diverse backgrounds.

Since joining IDEMS full-time, Lily has worked across a wide range of projects at the intersection of data, education, and software. She has contributed to the development of open-source R packages (including carbonR, rapidproR, and openappR), designed user-friendly dialogs in R-Instat, and helped lead the creation of tools that allow Shiny apps to be generated from spreadsheet-based specifications (excelToShiny). She has collaborated on courses in research methods, climate data analysis, and responsible AI, most notably creating a course with The Alan Turing Institute on how biased data leads to biased outcomes. Lily is also a regular contributor to IDEMS podcasts, one of which is featured in the link provided.

Her work is driven by a passion for making data easy: ensuring that people not only have access to powerful tools, but also understand how to use them responsibly. She is particularly focused on data literacy in the age of AI, where misunderstanding data can lead to real harm. Lily continues to explore how open educational tools can be scaled to promote responsible data use at a global level.

What’s the most interesting project or problem you’re working on right now?

The most interesting problem I’m working on right now is how to make data easier — easier to access, to teach, and to understand. With the rise of AI, the risks of misusing data are growing, and many of the biggest issues in AI today stem from basic misunderstandings of data. There are increasing case studies where the misuse of data has caused real harm – from algorithmic bias in criminal justice systems like COMPAS, to large-scale injustices like the Dutch Childcare Scandal.

I’m particularly interested in how we build data literacy at scale, whether through open-source R tools, Moodle courses, or interactive resources like the Millet Game, which highlights how small data errors can lead to major real-world consequences.

What’s most surprising, unexpected or rewarding about working in transdisciplinary collaborations?

What’s most surprising is seeing that I can genuinely add value, even in a room full of experts who deeply understand their domain. I might not be an expert on their problem, but I can bring something important from the data side. It’s incredibly rewarding to contribute meaningfully in that way, and humbling to work alongside such brilliant and passionate people.

Why did/do you choose to work at IDEMS? 

I met David and Danny in 2016, and I have worked with them both since – with the only exception being during my Masters (where I did my dissertation with them), and my PhD (where I worked with IDEMS part time). They’ve managed to convince me to do all sorts of tasks, and it was just natural that I join them full time after my PhD since I really enjoy the work that IDEMS do.

IDEMS is a very rewarding place. You get a lot of freedom on what you want to work on. You get challenged a lot which is fun – it’s fun to surprise yourself on what you can do – and those challenges can lead to a lot of growth and new learnings. Your perspective is challenged a lot, and you get to work with and meet incredible people.

Where is home?

Home is Southampton. I enjoy being active – running, climbing, walking, swimming – anything that gets me outdoors. I secretly hope IDEMS will send me to countries with parkruns so I can start ticking them off my list. Family is really important to me, and my dog is a huge part of that – he’s my world and very spoiled, and very energetic so we go out exploring together a lot. He forces me to work on the sofa since he wants to be on my lap, which means he occasionally pops up in meetings. He can make recording podcasts difficult if the postman comes, or just if he sees someone he doesn’t like the look of walking past the window.

Chiara brings a strong foundation in mathematical modelling and systems thinking to her work developing digital tools for social impact.

After completing a PhD in mathematical engineering at Politecnico di Milano, she began searching for ways to apply her technical skills in service of social good. That search led her to IDEMS while exploring volunteering opportunities in Africa—and ultimately to becoming the first “Impact Activation Postdoctoral Fellow” at the organization – a now established position that is designed as a bridge between academia and applied development work, offering the flexibility to engage in diverse, transdisciplinary projects while learning from a global network of collaborators.

Since joining IDEMS in 2020, she has led and contributed to a wide range of projects—including chatbot-based parenting interventions, open-source statistical tools for meteorological services, and decision-support systems for agriculture. Much of her work involves translating complex problems into simple, scalable systems that can be used by local partners.

Driven by a belief that technology should increase access—not complexity—she is committed to developing tools that are inclusive, adaptable, and grounded in the needs of the communities they serve.

Why did/do you choose to work at IDEMS?
Working at IDEMS offers the opportunity to work on complex, impactful challenges in a truly innovative environment. The work is incredibly diverse, spanning multiple fields and addressing real-world problems. Its international focus, collaborative culture, and the chance to interact with inspiring colleagues and partners make it an ideal fit for me.

What’s most surprising, unexpected, or rewarding about working in transdisciplinary collaborations?
The most rewarding part of transdisciplinary work is the enriching human interactions it fosters. It’s amazing to uncover commonalities between seemingly different fields and see how knowledge and approaches can transfer across disciplines. It’s also a reminder of how much we can achieve when we collaborate with open minds.

What social problem is nearest and dearest to you?
I feel deeply connected to any issue that can significantly improve people’s livelihoods. This includes immigration, marginalization, and other challenges that prevent individuals and communities from thriving.

What role do you think tech can/should/could play in social impact?
In my view, technology should serve as a tool to make real-world solutions more efficient, accessible, and scalable. It’s not an end in itself but a powerful means to enable progress. By reducing barriers to access and amplifying the reach of impactful solutions, tech can help create equitable opportunities for communities worldwide.

Where is home?
For me, home is Italy, where I grew up surrounded by a strong sense of community and mutual support. I’ve recently moved to Rome and discovered inspiring social projects that aim to build connections and create spaces for collaboration and support. These initiatives resonate deeply with me and remind me of the importance of fostering community wherever you are.

Lucie enjoys working with communities to support them in creating positive social change (see podcast below which problematises this!).

She is motivated by a deep interest and curiosity in the relationship between people and their environment, which has taken her from craftwork in Scotland and Oceania, to agroecology in West and East Africa.

Her unusual combination of a BSc in pure mathematics and a PhD in social anthropology has proven useful in leading the Research Methods Support team for the Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems at IDEMS, engaging with local researchers leading Farmer Research Networks in West Africa.

What’s the most interesting project or problem you’re working on right now?

How to introduce and encourage agronomists to use transdisciplinary research methods. Many of the researchers I work with are leading innovative research with and for communities, but their academic training has not prepared them with the methodological tools to do this. I’m excited to be developing training materials and an example research study to enable researchers.

What’s the most challenging project or problem you’re working on right now?

I’m interested in how to help others develop critical thinking skills and self-reflexivity, which I believe are key competencies for data analysis and wider professional development. These personal development, or team building challenges, come into my work building up a team of research methods support assistants in the Sahel as part of the Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems program.

What role do you think tech can/should/could play in social impact?

It’s only in the last 100 years or so that we think of tech as electronic technology. If we take a wider perspective, technology encompasses all inventions that have been created to alter the human environment. Fundamentally, we invent things to make our lives easier.

At IDEMS, I engage with all types of technologies: from supporting researchers who are exploring the nutritional value of traditional food preservation techniques for fresh vegetables in rural Mali, to training postgraduate students in data analysis using statistical software.

Where is home?

I’m a dual national British and French and regularly travel between the two.

Spanish proofreading. Working part time on quality assurance for several IDEMS software development projects.

What’s the most interesting project or problem you’re working on right now?

My main area of work is administrative. While it may seem like a structural work, I truly enjoy the challenges that each project presents.

What’s a recent professional success you’re especially proud of?

I’m proud of what I’ve achieved working in IDEMS, not just the technical side but the social one. The new knowledge I have thanks to where and with I work, I’m aware of so many situations that I’d never have imagined that can be related to Maths or Science.

I think it’s really important to take a moment and realise that it’s not just a job or task you do every day, it’s something else. Something that matters and you know that you are part of that group of people working for the same ideas and ideals.

What social problem is nearest and dearest to you? 

As a society, we only perceive part of the social problems around us, but this isn’t due to a lack of empathy; it goes beyond that. There are so many that it’s impossible to be aware of all. I think that if we are able to see and know only one, no matter if it’s the minimum, that could be the nearest and dearest.

Why did/do you choose to work at IDEMS?
It makes me happy to work in a place where everyone is welcome, the environment is pleasant, and their projects have an impact.

Where is home? Anything you want to share about that?

As an Argentinian, my home will always be Argentina. After living in the UK for a few years, I returned to Argentina, and just recently decided to move to Spain.

Chris Marsh is a Software Development Team Leader at IDEMS International, where he leads software projects focusing on social impact. His work spans infrastructure design, platform development, and the creation of systems that are open, scalable, and adaptable to diverse user needs. Chris is particularly passionate about building solutions that empower domain experts and end-users, enabling them to shape digital tools without requiring deep technical expertise.

At IDEMS, he plays a strategic and hands-on role in delivering software across sectors including education, social development, and climate resilience. He has been instrumental in deploying platforms in dozens of countries.

With over two decades of experience in the software industry, Chris has worked across a range of organisations from large commercial software providers to mission-driven teams. Over the years, he has developed and led engineering teams, improved processes, and managed a variety of product lifecycles — always with a strong emphasis on quality, clarity, and collaboration.

He is a strong advocate for open-source technologies and equitable access to digital tools. Chris believes in designing software with flexibility and longevity in mind, so it can evolve with its users rather than limit them. His work reflects a commitment to impact over profit, and to fostering technology ecosystems that serve everyone, not just the most commercially viable markets.

What’s the most interesting problem you’re working on right now?

“Data as Code” — creating systems where business logic is entirely independent of the programming language. This allows non-developers (like domain experts) to build and evolve functionality, and ensures long-term flexibility and cross-platform compatibility.

What’s the most challenging project you’re working on right now?

We intentionally build software that embraces complexity from the beginning, so users can shape it to their needs. This is different from traditional development, where solutions are often over-tailored to narrow problems. It’s challenging but worth it.

What’s a recent professional success you’re proud of?

We developed a UNICEF-supported website, IoGT. Midway, we discovered UNICEF’s internal team wouldn’t handle deployment, threatening the entire project. Though out of scope, we took it on ourselves at IDEMS’ cost. The site was ultimately deployed in 40+ countries and supported emergency responses in Ukraine and after the Turkey/Syria earthquakes. It ran at a loss, but our impact-first ethos made it worthwhile.

Where is home? Anything you want to share about that?

I live in Dronfield on the edge of the Peak District. I have 2 children, a 2 and 4 year-old. Working from home has allowed me to spend more time with my children. Being able to walk my daughter to school and get back before my 9 o’clock meeting makes a huge difference to my life. IDEMS provides me with the flexibility that makes sure I don’t have to choose between career and family.

Content Development Lead, MSc in Mathematical Innovation

Hello. Let’s talk about Pure Mathematics; not the kind that lives on dusty chalkboards, but the kind that quietly powers some of the smartest tech we use today.

Think higher-order logic and categorical structures; they’re not just theoretical playthings. They’re what make templating systems modular, chatbot flows intelligent, and databases flexible enough to model complex social systems.

Sure, we need developers. But long before the first line of code, someone has to dream up the system; someone who can translate tangled complexity into elegant structure. That someone often speak fluent Maths.

At IDEMS, we don’t just explore these ideas; we apply them. We’re building tools, training thinkers, and designing graduate programmes that prepare the next generation of mathematical scientists to step directly into system design, research, and tech development.

Dr Geoffrey Mboya, with a doctorate in Algebraic Geometry from University of Oxford, brings a rare blend of deep academic insight, technical creativity, and educational design.

Johnny is a software developer and occasional graphic designer. He has a background in physics and philosophy, with a particular interest in the intersection of the two.

What’s the most interesting project or problem you’re working on right now?

Applying concepts from category theory to give us new ways of articulating the decisions we’re making in our software architecture.

What social problem is nearest and dearest to you?

The exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie.

What role do you think tech can/should/could play in social impact? 

Tech won’t save us, but there needs to be an alternative to technology created to extract resources (money, data, etc.), that instead serves the needs of communities. Far too often, tech is an accelerator of the destructive forces of the world rather than a tool for positive change.

What’s most surprising, unexpected or rewarding about working in transdisciplinary collaborations?

I love the density of communication between different team members and partners. It’s always rewarding getting a different perspective on a problem.

What in your education and/or past professional or personal experiences is most relevant to the work you’re currently doing?

The philosophy side of my Physics and Philosophy degree has proved surprisingly useful both in communicating precisely and in structuring software and data systems. At IDEMS it seems we always want to generalise our structures to just one more level…

Why did/do you choose to work at IDEMS?

I was looking for an ethically motivated job that would value my skills and enable me to contribute to meaningful projects.

Where is home? Anything you want to share about that?

I volunteer at a local mycology co-operative and am gradually digesting the wet foundations of Manchester through an expanding mycelium network.

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James K. Musyoka is an applied statistician and educator with a strong interest in advancing statistical education and climate resilience in Africa. He currently serves as a Postdoctoral Impact Activation Fellow at IDEMS International where he applies his expertise in climate data analysis to support climate-related projects aimed at enhancing agricultural decision making.

James holds a Ph.D. in Applied Statistics from Maseno University where he also earned his MSc and BSc degrees in the same field. His doctoral research focused on climate applications including rescuing, analysing and modelling historical climate data from over 50 stations in Western Kenya.

He is currently on leave of absence from his position as a lecturer in the department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Maseno University, where he contributed passionately to modernizing statistics teaching. James co-founded African Maths Initiative to advance this commitment, launching initiatives such as the African Data Initiative which led to the development of R-Instat. He is widely recognised in the International statistics education community having shared his work and engaged in numerous conferences. He is a member of International Association of Statistics Education (IASE) where he served as past Vice President .

In addition to his academic work at Maseno University, James was also actively involved in managing climate-related projects, collaborating with local and international research partners to enhance climate information services for agriculture. This experience laid a foundation for his current work at IDEMS International where he uses data science to support climate resilience and contribute to training and capacity building.

What’s a recent professional success you’re especially proud of (can be at IDEMS or something you did independently)?

I am pleased that over that last year, I have grown into a role that involves building strong relationships with meteorological services in Africa. These collaborations have been central to the success of our climate-related work at IDEMS. One of the major challenges we have faced is restrictive data policies which often limit access to critical climate information. Through partnerships we have been able to make real progress in opening up access and improve usability of climate data particularly for agricultural decision making.

What’s most surprising, unexpected or rewarding about working in transdisciplinary collaborations?

What has been most surprising for me in transdisciplinary collaborations is realising that I do not need to know everything to make meaningful contribution. I used to think that I had know a lot to be valuable in an organisation. But I have come to see that even small contributions I make from my area of expertise can be important in achieving the bigger goals. It is rewarding to see how different disciplines come together and how each individuals input adds value to the collective effort

Why did/do you choose to work at IDEMS? 

I joined IDEMS because I was looking for a challenging working environment that would push me to grow and continue learning. IDEMS has provided an environment where I can apply my expertise while constantly expanding it. I also really like the flexibility in working arrangements.

Where is home? 

I am originally from Kenya, which will always be home for me, but am currently based in Finland. Moving to Finland was a big change especially the weather which was quite an adjustment but I have come to enjoy it. When am not indoors working, I like to spend time outdoors running or jogging which has been a great way to explore my surroundings and adapt to the seasons here.

A catalyst for positive change — turning purpose into impact through structured action and collaboration.

Elena blends expertise in project management, business development, and digital product design and implementation to drive meaningful change as Social Impact Enabler. At IDEMS, she contributes to a range of social development initiatives and leads work to improve systems and processes that help the organisation scale its impact.

She holds a Masters of Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, along with dual degrees in Science and Business Management from The University of Queensland.

What social problem is nearest and dearest to you?

I care deeply about early childhood development and education, special needs and maternal mental health support, and ensuring open access to the resources that enable them. I’m particularly interested in how digital tools can drive impact — especially those that support parents, teachers, and health workers in low-connectivity settings. Our Early Family Math app is a great example of this — placing simple, powerful tools in caregivers’ hands to turn everyday moments into meaningful learning.

What’s a recent professional success you’re especially proud of?

Being part of a team that has delivered a number of parenting apps and chatbots under the Global Parenting Initiative in partnership with the University of Oxford and Parenting for Lifelong Health, has been deeply rewarding. With growing evidence of positive impact on families, it will equally be exciting to see our OpenApp and OpenChat Builder’s potential in broader contexts.

What’s the most interesting project or problem you’re working on right now?

Most recently, growing our internal knowledge repository and further refining how we work at IDEMS has been a satisfying behind-the-scenes effort. It’s about turning implicit knowledge into shared understanding, which hopefully can make a difference — especially in a fully remote environment.

Why did you choose to work at IDEMS?

I was initially drawn to IDEMS by the opportunity to contribute to the Global Parenting Initiative, which closely align with my personal interests. At IDEMS, I appreciate the organisation’s principled approach, its strong culture of individual empowerment, and the flexibility it offers. The opportunity to contribute to diverse, meaningful projects — and collaborate with an exceptionally multi-disciplinary group of individuals — has made IDEMS a truly special place to work.

Where is home?

Home is London for now – but it has been Mombasa, Kathmandu, Phnom Penh among other pit stops. We chose Lewisham to raise our family as it is incredibly culturally diverse and of course with an abundance of green spaces to fly our kite!

Georg has been working at IDEMS on a variety of projects since May 2021. His main focus is maths education and technology, especially around the use of automated assessment using STACK, a system where questions are authored using a computer algebra system and that offers mechanisms for detailed feedback. Other work includes designing data pipelines for building chatbots, used e.g. in the ParentText project, devising and prototyping the mathematical modeling framework psymple, building a chatbot that is regularly used to collect over 30000 submissions to mathematics competitions in Rwanda using photos of answer sheets, and earlier on project management and development for the Internet of Good Things.

With his studies, Georg has always stayed near the intersection of mathematics and computer science, doing an undergraduate in both subjects at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, a master’s in combinatorics and optimization at the University of Waterloo, and a PhD on computational geometry algorithms at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria. During his PhD, Georg did three internships at Google, and designed and taught the course “Introduction to Programming in Python” at in 2017 (and again in 2019), for which he won the Golden Sponge award for the best course of the academic year 2017/2018.

Georg’s experience in education and teaching reaches much further back, though. In his undergraduate he was a tutor for a seminar training students for programming competitions, and he continued to have a few teaching assistantships during his master’s. In 2014 he spent half a year as a tutor at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Ghana, including for courses such as Python programming and graph theory. Since then he has stayed involved in maths education initiatives in Africa. In particular he has been co-facilitating math camps for high school students, organizing workshops, training a team in Kenya on creating STACK questions and in 2023 Georg volunteered as a tutor at AddisCoder, a program for bright high school students in Ethiopia to learn programming from zero to algorithms.

Outside of work, Georg is passionate about rock climbing, learning about wildlife and biodiversity and going on adventures in nature.

What social problem is nearest and dearest to you? 

Improving the quality of education to better convey scientific questioning, critical thinking and problem solving skills (and to some extent problem solving tools, through technical literacy). Democracy requires transparency and a populace willing to engage in a evidence-based and rational discourse, and authoritarians are working on eroding these values.

What’s the most challenging project or problem you’re working on right now?

My colleagues and our team in Kenya have been creating and using STACK questions over the last 6 years, for various institutions and contexts, and of varying quality. Organizing and maintaining this content so that it is easy to find relevant materials and to ensure that local improvements are fed back into our question bank is a big challenge.

This work is important to keep supporting institutions across Africa (and hopefully beyond) and guarantee that the materials used are of good quality to help students in their learning process. The potential for a good question bank is huge: For example, Ethiopia has a centralized undergraduate curriculum, and content used in one institution could be scaled across the entire country. Similarly, there is a current effort to create interactive textbooks for Kenyan high-schools that integrate STACK materials.

Scaling digital content with automatic feedback for students to engage in, followed up by research on the usage of this data to improve these materials and understand learning patterns, would be a high-impact intervention fostering collaboration between local institutions/researchers and international researchers.

Why did/do you choose to work at IDEMS? 

I’ve had experience in academia (through my PhD), industry (through internships), and wanted to try out something else. I was also attracted by the shared vision and hoping to do meaningful and impactful work, especially in education.

What in your education and/or past professional or personal experiences is most relevant to the work you’re currently doing?

Problem solving, analytical and programming skills from my studies and industry internships; a better (but still very limited) understanding of education systems, communication and culture in a few African countries (through my work as a tutor at AIMS and various other initiatives and projects).

Where is home? 

It’s hard for me to call one place home, having lived in so many places. I grew up in a rural/suburban area close to nature, though I commuted to school in the city of Dresden. I’ve been living in Vienna, Austria, for almost a decade now, but I’ve never fully adapted to an urban lifestyle. I spend a good portion of my time elsewhere, for example for work projects or rock climbing, and I try to come back to my parents’ home for a bit every year and figure out how I can give something back, after having received so much support during my younger years.

Since joining IDEMS in 2023, George has managed our collaboratory with CASAS Global to improve the accessibility and impact of ecosystem dynamics modelling. This has included the development of psymple, a Python-based modelling platform for complex systems, and joint research with the Topos Institute on the categorical structure of complex models.

His work bridges mathematical rigor with real-world application, advancing socially relevant outcomes through his advocation of open-source, collaborative approaches. He is committed to delivering research, training, and technology that support sustainable development and social impact.

George graduated with a PhD in Mathematical Sciences from the University of Southampton in 2023, where his research focused on algebraic topology and polyhedral products, and previously earned an MMath degree from the University of Warwick in 2018. George has always strived to work across traditional boundaries, both in his research and beyond, and now holds an expanding publication record across pure mathematics, population ecology, and research software.

Beyond his technical contributions, George has played a significant role in capacity-building through education by co-supervising MSc projects in Kenya and designing open online courses in climate data analysis and mathematical modelling. Notably, he served as an organiser for the Impact Activation Workshop for Mathematical Scientists, teaching transdisciplinary social impact skills.

What’s the most challenging project or problem you’re working on right now? 

Our collaboration with CASAS Global is part of our wider work with the McKnight Foundation’s CRFS programme. Understanding how to bridge the gap between the research tools and methods pioneered by CASAS and how to use these methods to create impactful interventions at the level of local communities and farms, for example integrating with farmer research networks (FRNs) or with existing integrated pest management (IPM) schemes is an incredibly wide-ranging problem which has required, and will require, understanding, developing and trying many potential methodologies.

What social problem is nearest and dearest to you? 

My passion has always been around education, but particularly around how to spread knowledge that enables people to make their own informed decisions, in their own contexts, so as to best enable their own economic and social development, security and mobility. 

What role do you think tech can/should/could play in social impact? 

I view technology as something with implicitly captures deep technical expertise and automates processes in a way such that orders of magnitudes more people are able to access and run them on their own. The most impactful tech should be open source and enable collaborative workflows which expose access points differently to different users in ways in which they can contribute their expertise, be that academic, developmental, data, or local knowledge.

What’s most surprising, unexpected or rewarding about working in transdisciplinary collaborations?

I love being able to visit and work with people with different experiences or backgrounds who approach these problems completely differently. In my short time at IDEMS I’ve already been lucky enough to travel to California, Italy, and Kenya to work side-by-side with world leaders. Finding ways to bridge those gaps in knowledge, language, experience or aims is a highly rewarding challenge. It’s always surprising to find out how many people have the same ideas and goals, and investing the time to make those connections has led to much deeper understanding between my collaborators and myself.

Where is home?

I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Warwick where I met my now-fiancé Amelia, and we’ve now set up home nearby in Leamington Spa with our cats Jaffa and Dodger. I switch off using exercise which allows me to travel and explore near and far: hiking, cycling, running, orienteering and, dodgy shoulder-dependent, the occasional game of squash. I am particularly passionate about the importance of blood donation, and I’ve been a regular platelet and plasma donor since 2020.

An experienced, pragmatic software developer who strives to find the root of problems and knows that the most appropriate solution needn’t be clever, fancy or even technical. Working in several early-stage startups and scale-ups has resulted in a well-rounded skill set, and an appreciation for the context in which technology is applied.

After working in various companies in the travel, banking and telecoms industries, he became the CTO of a bicycle-powered, same-day delivery service in London, which aimed to reduce carbon emissions and improve working conditions for couriers. The company was only mildly successful at achieving its goals and Ian realised how ineffective mainstream, profit-driven companies usually are at addressing social issues.

Ian discovered IDEMS in 2021 and is happy to have found a company that is thoughtful, pragmatic and dedicated to improving the lives of those who have been left behind. Ian helps IDEMS to follow good software engineering practices across the whole software development lifecyle.

Why do you choose to work at IDEMS?

I was unsatisfied working at companies that were primarily profit-driven and most interested in those who already have plenty of money and power. I think my interest in helping those who need it most might best be realised by working at IDEMS.

What’s most surprising, unexpected or rewarding about working in transdisciplinary collaborations?

Working with people who have different backgrounds and ways of thinking, which gives me reasons to check my own assumptions and the ways that I think. Applying software solutions to others’ research/work to amplify and maximise their impact. As a collaborator with technical skills, I get to work across a diverse range of interesting projects.

What role do you think tech can/should/could play in social impact?

Technology plays a democratising role in social impact, by giving more power to those who have little. It’s something that can potentially turbocharge an existing intervention or practice, helping to reach orders of magnitude more people and unlocking economies of scale.

What in your education and/or past professional or personal experiences is most relevant to the work you’re currently doing?

Most of my experience has come from working in fairly small companies where a broad skill set and being able to learn quickly on the job is well appreciated, and so it is also at IDEMS. My knowledge of how to deploy applications and manage supporting tech infrastructure is what is most appreciated at IDEMS, but I also try to help others follow good software engineering practices.

Francis is a climate data analyst, statistics educator, and social entrepreneur passionate about improving lives through data-driven decision-making. He is the founder and director of GHAIDEMS Ltd, a Ghanaian social enterprise dedicated to strengthening climate resilience and data literacy across Africa. He also co-founded African Maths Initiative Ghana (AMI Ghana), an NGO focused on creating a positive mathematical culture through education and research.

With over a decade of experience collaborating with meteorological services and development agencies across Africa, Francis brings deep expertise in climate data analysis, participatory methods, and statistical education. His work with the Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) has helped bridge the gap between complex climate information and farmers’ decision-making needs. He has contributed to projects led by ICRISAT, University of Reading, and IDEMS International, and played a leading role in capacity building using R-Instat, a statistical tool designed for climate data analysis.

He holds a Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Cape Coast. His research focuses on improving climate information for agriculture, especially in the context of smallholder farming in Ghana. He has an MSc in Mathematical Sciences from AIMS Ghana. Francis has facilitated climate data workshops across Africa and authored several technical reports and academic publications related to climate services and education.

At GHAIDEMS, he provides leadership and strategic guidance, ensuring that our initiatives enhance societal transformation through the application of mathematics, statistics, and data science. We focus on education, climate analytics, and decision-support tools that help various stakeholders, including farmers and policymakers, make informed choices.

At IDEMS, he contributes to climate-focused projects, helping meteorological services improve climate-relevant analyses and data quality. Francis also helps mentor interns and work on enhancing mathematical education across Africa.

What’s the most challenging project you’re working on right now?

Improving the quality of long-term climate data in countries where digital archives are incomplete or inconsistent is very challenging. Merging manual records, filling missing gaps, research on outfilling to extend records and ensuring the usability of data for stakeholders involves meticulous work and coordination with local agencies.

What social problem is nearest and dearest to you?

Access to quality climate information for smallholder farmers. Empowering them with reliable data can significantly reduce vulnerability and improve livelihoods.

Also, I am deeply committed to tackling the challenge of mathematics education and its perception in Ghana and across Africa. Many students develop anxiety and fear around mathematics, seeing it as an abstract subject disconnected from the real world. This negative perception limits opportunities in science, technology, and innovation—fields that are crucial for Africa’s development. Through initiatives like AMI Ghana and the Allotey Maths Camp, I am passionate about changing this narrative. By making mathematics engaging, practical, and enjoyable, we help students see its relevance and power. Long-term, I hope to foster a positive mathematical culture that equips young minds with the problem-solving skills necessary for driving progress in diverse sectors, from climate science to entrepreneurship.

What role should tech play in social impact?

Technology should bridge knowledge gaps, not widen them. Tools must be designed with end-users in mind to be usable, context-specific, localised, and supportive of long-term capacity building.

What’s most surprising or rewarding about transdisciplinary collaborations?

Realising that no one needs to know everything. When different disciplines come together, even small contributions from one’s own field can be transformative in shaping the outcome of a complex project.

Why do you choose to work with IDEMS?

IDEMS provides a rare space where meaningful research meets practical impact. The team is collaborative, visionary, and grounded in real-world challenges. It’s an environment where I can grow, contribute, and feel aligned with the mission.

Where is home?

I consider Ghana home, but my work takes me across Africa. My commitment to education and climate research means I am constantly engaging with individuals and communities in various countries. Outside of work, I enjoy singing in my home church choir, playing football and chess, and being active in my church and local volunteer work.

David is experienced in collaboration, building relationships and social entrepreneurship.

After co-founding a couple of tech-related startups in London, seeking a greater sense of purpose in his work led to managing two ecological social enterprises in Papua New Guinea. Combining social, economic and environmental impact, this approach has shaped his direction ever since.

Back in the UK, David found diving into community development in Bristol a brilliant way to learn about the place and its people – eventually applying this local knowledge to lead the writing of a collaborative bid to secure a £3m investment in the city’s social economy. This milestone also gave him a springboard to reconnect with tech and international development just as IDEMS was looking for social investment.

What’s the most interesting project or problem you’re working on right now?
Helping to figure out how to communicate IDEMS’ underlying approach to a wider public is exciting and exasperating. Translating it, on one hand, into the story of a sustainable enterprise for investors and, on the other, into a model for impact that partners in Ghana, Kenya and elsewhere can really make their own.

What’s a recent professional success you’re especially proud of?
It’s not quite complete yet, but facilitating data sharing between meteorological and hydrological services in Zimbabwe is almost at the point of making a breakthrough which should really help farmers deal with a changing climate. My colleagues have done all the hard work but I’m pleased to have helped the project over several bumps in the road – and it should be a promising model for other countries.

What social problem is nearest and dearest to you?
The injustice of climate change is a big driver, so using technology to mitigate rather than exacerbate its impact is an important start – then rebalancing social and economic power towards a future that’s equitable and livable in the longer term. (To me, this is an integral aspect of social mobility in the widest sense.)

Where is home?
Home is Bristol for the current chapter. Culturally it’s really exciting and diverse. I can walk into town to find the world in music and out of town to find the world in forests and fields. For the next chapter, home will be somewhere else, but I don’t know where yet.

Esmee brings a background in pure mathematics and a visual approach to problem solving, shaped by a PhD in geometric group theory—focused on two-dimensional structures in three-dimensional space. Her academic path honed a deep, diagram-driven way of thinking that now informs her interdisciplinary role at IDEMS.

After completing her studies, Esmee sought work with more social relevance and less abstraction. Uninterested in academia or finance but unsure of alternatives, she connected with IDEMS following her volunteering with SAMI Maths Camps in Kenya and Ghana. That connection—and a shared desire to do meaningful, applied work—led her to join IDEMS in 2020 as a Postdoctoral Impact Activation Fellow.

Since then, Esmee has played several key roles at IDEMS, including Technical Lead on the PLH ParentApp and the Early Family Math App, where she guides tech development and content structure design. She also plays a central role in IDEMS’s accounting operations, and brings rigour, clarity, and a collaborative spirit to every aspect of her work.

What’s the most interesting project or problem you’re working on right now?
I’m working on the hierarchy of app deployments: How do we design a system that structures the content of app deployments in a way that accurately reflects their similarities and differences, avoids duplication, and also serves content authors and implementers? The aim is to enable them to efficiently create, review, and translate app content.

Do you have a dream collaboration that you’d like IDEMS to take on?
I would be thrilled if we secured funding for the Early Family Math collaboration so it can grow into something bigger and more impactful.

What’s most rewarding about working in transdisciplinary collaborations?
I love meeting new people and trying to understand their perspectives. Transdisciplinary collaborations are often a melting pot of experiences and ideas, which makes them intellectually stimulating and pushes me to challenge my own beliefs.

Where is home? Anything you want to share about the communities that matter to you in that home?
I moved to London in 2019 have been here ever since! Over the past few years, I’ve enjoyed volunteering with FoodCycle in my neighbourhood. We prepare meals from surplus food and share them with the local community. It’s a great way to meet new people—both volunteers and guests—and I love the change of pace from sitting behind my desk all day to chopping vegetables and chatting with others!